The Happy Musicians Podcast helps musicians build healthy, happy, and fulfilling careers by sharing mental health and wellness advice from artists who’ve managed to do just that. We’ve all got big dreams for where we want to go with music. But the road to our dreams is full of obstacles, and it will take a significant amount of practice, energy, and time to get there. These interviews offer different techniques to discover what lifestyle will bring us the most joy, and how to build a rewarding, sustainable, and deliberate path to that lifestyle. I say lifestyle because, as you’ll hear in the interviews, we won’t suddenly find happiness when we achieve our dreams. Happiness isn’t found in a sponsorship, record deal, or Grammy. Happiness is something we have to practice, just like our instrument. If we can dedicate ourselves to that practice we might actually enjoy the process of realizing our dreams. Even better, we can enjoy the life we have when we get there. It’s definitely not always easy, but the good news is you’re not alone in your struggle. Let’s figure it out together!
Tanner Guss
I’m an over-zealous fan of “The Office”, coffee addict, plant dad, minimalist, and I play the drums. I grew up outside of Salt Lake City in Herriman, UT. I’m the youngest in a creative, but non-musical family who always supported my pursuit of music even when they didn’t understand how it would work or what I was going through. I graduated from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and now gig full time in New Orleans. Honestly, most days I’m quite proud of my ability as a drummer, and I’ve played with artists who score serious points in name-dropping competitions. But like most of you, I’ve got my doubts, and I could use a bit of help and guidance from the musicians who have figured out a way through this complicated lifestyle. My experiences in music school, and as part of a large gig scene, have made it clear to me that, unfortunately, there really aren’t that many happy musicians out there. So I’m working hard to become one, and I’m excited to share what I learn with all of you.